Cold and flu season is coming up fast and some of us will be visiting our doctor a lot more in the next couple of months. Believe it or not, you do have the power to choose who see in your weakest moments, and now may be a good time to think about if your current doctor should continue to have the privilege of caring for you. Luckily, I love my primary care doctor, Dr. Ken Gibson at Partners In Health in Delmont. I’ve been seeing him since I was in my teens, and he continues to provide the kind of care I want. Above anything else, I want someone to listen to me and not just hand over a …

Since starting my new job I’ve had some trouble adjusting. I didn’t realize how uncomfortable it would be to be in this new place. I’d come from a company I’d been at for more than five years. I knew the products, my role and responsibilities, my coworkers and the company, and everyone knew me and what I was capable of. At this new place everything is, well, new. This feeling of knowing nothing and no one made me feel isolated until I heard a fellow new employee say the same exact thing I’d been saying for the last few weeks—“It’s so difficult to go from somewhere where I knew everything to …

Everyday, more than half of my fellow bus passengers who park at the Alpine Village Park and Ride with me risk their lives crossing in the middle of the street instead of walking 30 feet to the light to cross at the crosswalk. I walk to the light, press the pedestrian button and wait less than a minute for the light to change, and cross with a lot less risk. When I was engaged, most people’s outlook on my wedding day was that it would go fast and I’d never remember it. It went as fast/slow as any other day, and I remember almost every piece of it. Some of my friends who have toddlers have …

A study in exercise science recently found just 15 minutes of physical activity a day can add an average of three years to your life. Most people I know think that if they can’t get in the 30 or more recommended by most health agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, then it won’t be worth it. This study, done by Taiwan's National Health Research Institutes, says it is. Why 15? According to lead researcher Chi Pang Wen, the benefits gained in that first—or only—15 minutes are "enormous." The study also indicated this activity doesn’t necessarily need to be done in a…

After five and a half years at a perfectly fine job, I left to begin a new one, which I start on Monday. My reason? It was time for a change. Since most of you don’t know me, you don’t know of my sometimes paralyzing fear of change. I’m also afraid of its cousin, the unknown. So, this decision was huge for me. I loved my coworkers, and I loved I knew what to expect from my position—the good, bad and the ugly—but when this great opportunity came around, I felt deep down that I just had to take it. Half cursing the man who will be my new boss for offering me the position and half filled with …

Thank you Britney Spears—for you are my fitness role model and my motivation. I repeat my FITNESS role model.  I do not seek to have your life, career, conservatorship arrangement, ex-husbands/ex-boyfriends (Even Justin Timberlake?), or any of your—um—experiences.   I simply use her as my inspiration and my workout buddy. After wishing to look like certain models, actresses, singers and celebrities I settled on Britney because we have the same body type—we’re built a little thicker than, say, Christina Aguilera. Also, we’ve both had kids. Sure, I don’t have a trainer I pay a bunch of money to…

A study done by New York City health officials found 15 percent of customers used the calorie information posted on menus and ordered items with an average of 100 fewer calories. In New York City, restaurant and fast food chains are required to list this information. If that was a requirement here (it’s been proposed), would you read this information and make more healthy decisions? How about just not going into the joint in the first place? They should post the nutritional information on the door. When I first read about this, I thought it was a fine idea. However, most of the food is …

I don’t know if you’ve heard, but it’s hot. I don’t usually workout outside, but when the weather gets nice I do try to add in outside activities, like dog walking or running around the playground with my son. However, this weather is not nice. I don’t do anything outside when it’s this hot, and I don’t recommend you do either. However, I have seen some crazy committed people outside running, walking and playing basketball at Boyce Park. I’m so very proud of them and at the same time puzzled and concerned. They must react to the heat differently than me. Good for them. If you are one who is …

It’s 2 p.m. and you’re dragging. You need something to revive you, to pep you up. You reach fo water. Right? Don’t worry, I didn’t before this week either. However, in an effort to drink less coffee, I chose water. The effect on the rest of my day was glorious. I was awake, happy, energetic—all, in my opinion, because of the water. Usually, around that time of day, I brew myself another single-serve cup of Joe and enjoy it. I’m not sure I’m drinking it to rev my engine or more as a ritual or something to do after working through more than half the day. But, that’s what I do—or did. We’ve all …

I have to admit I’ve been feeling a little let down by my fellow humans. I haven’t been this disappointed by how people are treating one another since my days working at the mall. After leaving my post there, it took a while for me to retrain myself to not think everyone was horrible. Those of you who’ve worked in customer service know what I’m talking about. In that kind of position, it’s a barrage of nasty comments, strange requests and the feeling that you’re the scum of the Earth who can’t make anyone happy. At least that’s what I got out of it. I’ve been going about my business as usual …

When I was younger (and dumber), I thought in order to lose weight, you had to eliminate all fat. It made sense to me—I didn’t want to be fat, so I didn’t eat fat. My mom kept telling I was wrong. “You need fat for your cells to do what they do,” she would say. Not too convincing to my teenage self. Mama was right, though. Fat has gotten a bad reputation, but it’s not all bad. Fats do a number of positive things for our bodies. They provide energy, build healthy cells, feed our brains, help our bodies absorb certain vitamins, make hormones that regulate our bodies, help our skin and cushion …

At times I’m sweet. Other times I’m salty. I’m talking about my snacking preferences, and now, I finally have a healthy answer to both of them. For years, I’ve been trying to meet each of these craving types with something healthy. I read suggestions that ran from eating cucumbers for crunch (come on!) to hard candy for sweets (my teeth won’t like that).  I knew what would work for me and those weren’t it. To satisfy my salt craving, I originally went with baked chips. However, they’re just not the same no matter what they say. Also, I’m not going for those altered mutants of the chip world …

Your blood is pumping, your face and stomach hurt; you’re crying and can’t be controlled. You’re laughing hysterically—and improving your health. According to the Mayo Clinic, it doesn’t matter what kind of laughter you’re participating in—chuckles or the doubled-over kind—it helps reduce stress and improve your health. “When you start to laugh, it doesn't just lighten your load mentally, it actually induces physical changes in your body,” according to the Mayo Clinic’s website. During a good laugh session your organs and circulation are stimulated by increased oxygen, endorphins are released…

The pyramid has crumbled—the food pyramid, that is. The pyramid with varying sized color bands representing the different food groups and the person climbing up the side (that reminded me of that yodeling mountain climber game on the Price is Right) is no more. Last week, First Lady Michelle Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack unveiled a new guide called MyPlate, which, according to a press release from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is to “serve as a reminder to help consumers make healthier food choices.” It’s supposed to help people build a healthy meal comprised of the right …

I enjoy a beautiful looking meal. To me, a plate full of colors and textures is a work of art. I take pictures when they’re particularly beautiful. I am a weirdo. I am OK with it. If you scanned all the diet tips out there you’d most certainly see high up on the list of ones that work something  about making your plate pretty. The more appealing you’re meal looks, the more you’ll want to eat it. Sometimes—by accident—I end up with what I call, a brown lunch: a turkey sandwich, crackers or baked chips and a cookie. Yuck! What a snoozer. Sure, it tastes just fine and it’s low in fat and …

When I’m down, I’m down. And it takes a lot to bring me back up. Do you ever get like this? You wake up on the wrong side of the bed and have a don’t-mess-with-me kind of a day. The answer to boosting your gloomy mood could be a tough workout. According to a study by the British Psychological Society, a vigorous workout can improve your negative mood. The majority of participants in the study had a better mood 20 minutes after their high-intensity workout than before. The Mayo Clinic also says exercise eases depression and anxiety by releasing “feel-good” brain chemicals, reducing immune …

It’s easy to give up on something you find difficult. Why do you think most of us start day one of a diet or an exercise program more than once? We can attribute our lack of follow through to several things—a big one being negativity. Did you ever start running or lifting weights only to tell yourself halfway through you’ll never make it? Did you start eating healthy and say to yourself you couldn’t eat like that forever? “I can’t do this,” you say. “It’s just too hard.” You’re done at this point, you know? You’ve decided you’re not going to finish or keep it up and, guess what, you won’t. …

I’ve been researching health and wellness topics for about 15 years. I’ve learned about fad diets, crazy workouts, not-so-crazy workouts, organic food, vitamins, deciphering nutritional information and just about anything else that would help me live healthier. I’ve tried most of it, too, in order to get to a place now where I’m 90-percent comfortable I’m doing the right things for my health. I’ve been cocky about it, though. I tell myself I know every trick and tip out there—especially when it comes to eating healthy. I’ve had the attitude I knew all there was to know about certain topics …

The other day I received a welcome email from the wellness committee chairperson at my day job with a list of the responsibilities of being a committee member. The very last one was to “be a wellness role model and set a healthy example for fellow associates.” This is a responsibility I take very seriously. I volunteered to be a wellness committee member so I could have a little hand in helping my coworkers get healthy—like I try to help myself, my family, my friends and you. I think making a life change for the better and going after what you want sets a great example for those who are …

On Monday I’m starting a new exercise program. Why? Because I didn’t stick with the other one I was doing. Why? Um—good question. I was feeling and looking good but still didn’t keep up with it and slacked off about two weeks ago after I was sidelined by illness. I made it easy enough for myselF—right time, right place—but still let it slip away. I must remind you I don’t write this column as an accredited expert on health and wellness. I’m an educated health and wellness buff who’s hoping the knowledge I’ve accumulated over the past 15 years and my failures, successes and epiphanies are …